Suppose you decide to obtain Italian citizenship; in that case, you don’t have to relinquish your initial citizenship because Italy recognizes dual citizenship for many countries. Italian dual citizenship provides you with many opportunities like employment and being able to buy and own property in Italy. This guide explains more about Italian dual citizenship and a few commonly asked questions.

The law on Italian dual citizenship

Italy passed a law on citizenship in 1992, allowing people of Italian descent to obtain dual citizenship. Before that, Italian dual citizenship was primarily for people born in Italy to Italian parents and a few exceptions.

Individuals born of Italian parent(s) in another country were the only ones eligible for dual citizenship because they gained their second citizenship involuntarily through birth. Another important aspect of the old law is that the voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship automatically led to the loss of Italian citizenship.

But that has since changed. Today, Italian law allows Italian citizens, whether born Italian or acquired through naturalization, to explore the possibilities of dual citizenship. That means citizens of other countries can obtain Italian dual citizenship without having to relinquish their original citizenship.

How to qualify for Italian dual citizenship

By descent

This is if you have evidence of a family connection to older generations born in Italy. It is known as jus sanguinis, which means the right of blood. Your application proceeds if you have the required documents to prove Italian ancestries, such as a death certificate or marriage certificate issued in Italy where applicable. Your personal civil record or naturalization certificates issued to Italian relatives can also be used.

By marriage

If you marry an Italian citizen, you are eligible for Italian dual citizenship. To get Italian dual citizenship through marriage, you must have been married while living in Italy for two years or one year if you have minor kids. You must also have a marriage certificate to prove this.

Naturalization

You can also get Italian dual citizenship if you have lived in the country for ten years or more with a legal visa. It is one of the common methods of obtaining Italian dual citizenship.

How many nationalities are an Italian citizen allowed to have?

The current Italian law acknowledges dual citizenship but doesn’t limit the number of citizenships one can hold. That means an Italian can be allowed to have two or more passports as long as the other countries where they are citizens to allow such laws.

How do you obtain Italian dual citizenship?

To get started, you need all the necessary documents. The application process depends on the basis on which you are applying for Italian dual citizenship. It is advisable to seek Italian dual citizenship services for more guidance on eligibility for Italian dual citizenship and the documents you need. A reliable firm can guide you in completing and submitting all the necessary documents to support your application and eliminate any necessary delays. Note that any paperwork omission can lead to the rejection of your application.

final words

There are many benefits of obtaining Italian dual citizenship, including the ability to vote, work, travel, enjoy quality education, reconnect with your family, and property ownership.